Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2010 is kind to us all, and brings you happiness and comfort.
Speaking of the old and the new, here is my newest concept, sweet matching sets of tops and bloomers to wear as PJs or lounge around the house in. i wanted to try this idea out a while ago when I found some pink plaid in the fabric shop. Unfortunately, every time I went back and looked at the pink fabric I liked it less and less. So I waited until this cute black/white/red plaid came in and looked at it for a few weeks to make sure I still liked it before I bought it. In the end, I am glad I waited. Looking at the pink stuff now I just don't like it at all!
Included in my model portrait of these cute PJs is Velvee, my beloved velveteen rabbit toy that was a gift from my father for Christmas when I was about 6. That bunny has been through a lot of tough times with me, and is almost entirely made out of mending stitches now. As well as my mother's no-nonsense whip stitches and my grandmother's nurse-perfect cross stitches, this rabbit is a study in my own sewing progression. From my first clumsy stitches over a torn seam when I was about 8 to my invisible reattachment of an ear when I was in college. I slept with this bunny every night until I was married (at which point my husband and his two cats took up most of the bed) and to me he's probably the most precious thing I own.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Side projects
We're closing in on holidays, here, and my proverbial sewing dance card is full, full, full. I just got a custom order today for a jacket that needs to be in Southern CA for Christmas! I went out and stood in the rain for an hour (waiting for a bus) to get the fabric. I washed it when I got home to pre-shrink it and it is now drip-drying in my bathroom. I sure hope it dries out quickly so I can start on it tomorrow!
On the side I made this little necklace pendant out of a tiny glass bottle charm, seven faceted diamonds, and a hummingbird feather. I was going to sell it but realized that no one else would think it's as cool as I do.
Here's the story:
I found a hummingbird feather on the feeder one day, and as I had never seen one before I was pretty delighted. I put it in this tiny bottle for safe-keeping until I could think of something to do with it. I decided to leave it there and the only thing I could think of that would be as tiny and precious as the little feather was loose diamonds. I robbed the stones out of a ring I had bought myself many years ago that broke not long after I began wearing it (razzafrakin'!).
getting the diamonds out was WAY harder than I thought it would be. I ended up breaking one (oops) and one popped out and got lost somewhere on the workroom floor (I guess I will just vacuum that up some day. There is something so opulent about vacuuming diamonds off the carpet). I couldn't get the last two stones out of the ring, but I managed to get out about .36ct total.
The feather is almost certainly from an Anna's hummingbird (year round residents of the trees around my midtown apartment) and looks grey most of the time but flashes a brilliant metallic green if you turn it to the light just right.
On the side I made this little necklace pendant out of a tiny glass bottle charm, seven faceted diamonds, and a hummingbird feather. I was going to sell it but realized that no one else would think it's as cool as I do.
Here's the story:
I found a hummingbird feather on the feeder one day, and as I had never seen one before I was pretty delighted. I put it in this tiny bottle for safe-keeping until I could think of something to do with it. I decided to leave it there and the only thing I could think of that would be as tiny and precious as the little feather was loose diamonds. I robbed the stones out of a ring I had bought myself many years ago that broke not long after I began wearing it (razzafrakin'!).
getting the diamonds out was WAY harder than I thought it would be. I ended up breaking one (oops) and one popped out and got lost somewhere on the workroom floor (I guess I will just vacuum that up some day. There is something so opulent about vacuuming diamonds off the carpet). I couldn't get the last two stones out of the ring, but I managed to get out about .36ct total.
The feather is almost certainly from an Anna's hummingbird (year round residents of the trees around my midtown apartment) and looks grey most of the time but flashes a brilliant metallic green if you turn it to the light just right.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Fox so Cunning and Free
I've been pretty slow off the mark lately with my design projects. But this week I made one complete project and I am almost finished with another! This little jacket (I know I keep making shrugs but they are so much fun!) was actually a bit of a pain to make. It went through several muslins (or "mock-ups", trial garments made from a cheap fabric to perfect the fit) before I was happy with the pattern I had drafted. After the pattern had been settled on I decided that to make the cuffs soft and comfy to wear meant stitching the lining together almost entirely by hand, even around the set-in puff sleeves!
The fabric for this is a lovely pink, grey, and silver brocade that is bold and textural. I have rarely seen anything like it, the last time I encountered a similar style of fabric it was when I was working on costumes for Hairspray! the musical. I bought the fabric not knowing exactly what I was going to do with it and ended up with so much left over I might even be able to make something else out of it. Maybe a matching corset?
Anyhow, this is going to be my offering for Cyber Monday, as we streak into the holiday shopping season at full tilt. Next week there will be another new listing on Etsy, inspired, as this was, by watching WAY too much Zorro lately.
Happy Holidays!
The fabric for this is a lovely pink, grey, and silver brocade that is bold and textural. I have rarely seen anything like it, the last time I encountered a similar style of fabric it was when I was working on costumes for Hairspray! the musical. I bought the fabric not knowing exactly what I was going to do with it and ended up with so much left over I might even be able to make something else out of it. Maybe a matching corset?
Anyhow, this is going to be my offering for Cyber Monday, as we streak into the holiday shopping season at full tilt. Next week there will be another new listing on Etsy, inspired, as this was, by watching WAY too much Zorro lately.
Happy Holidays!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Auld lang syne
I am almost done with a design project that will be up on Etsy for Cyber Monday, but I've been very slow at my work lately, and easy to distract!
I started an art project recently, using French postcards (early erotica, I mean, grainy black and white images of ladies from the 1890s) and took my inspiration from a paper doll I had made myself when I was a child. She was cut from a magazine and glued to cardstock and her clothes were all made from images in magazines and old calendars. Click through to my Flikr page to see the doll and more of the outfits. The clothes are all pretty indicative of how old I was when I made them (maybe 9-10?) and are pretty retro to look at now (wow, do you remember the fashion of 1990? Because now you will!)
I loved paper dolls as a girl, and have a pretty imposing collection of them as an adult. I have always loved making them. Is it any wonder that I became a fashion designer?
I started an art project recently, using French postcards (early erotica, I mean, grainy black and white images of ladies from the 1890s) and took my inspiration from a paper doll I had made myself when I was a child. She was cut from a magazine and glued to cardstock and her clothes were all made from images in magazines and old calendars. Click through to my Flikr page to see the doll and more of the outfits. The clothes are all pretty indicative of how old I was when I made them (maybe 9-10?) and are pretty retro to look at now (wow, do you remember the fashion of 1990? Because now you will!)
I loved paper dolls as a girl, and have a pretty imposing collection of them as an adult. I have always loved making them. Is it any wonder that I became a fashion designer?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
WOW!
Look at this fabulous store I just discovered today online! They make gorgeous decorative dress forms as well as selling vintage forms. I would love to have this amazing corseted form in my studio to inspire me!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
my friend, fashion is danger
Just a quick note to let everyone know that if you are looking for I Will Fly on Facebook the page is here!
I've just completed a new shrug, this one was made using a lovely 100% linen fabric that my mother (whom I have written about before) hand dyed. The colors and pattern reminded me of the ocean, or the northern lights. What does it remind you of?
I've just completed a new shrug, this one was made using a lovely 100% linen fabric that my mother (whom I have written about before) hand dyed. The colors and pattern reminded me of the ocean, or the northern lights. What does it remind you of?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Autumn falling
We're hoping to break away from the craziness of everyday life next week and visit our favorite piece of coastal redwoods. In honor of those cool breezy days with the mist in your hair (and of course the upcoming change of seasons! I can't wait to say goodbye to 100*+ days!) I created this capelet from wool herringbone.
This is one of those designs that came about because of a certain fabric. In this case the inspirational fabric was the dark chocolate brown plaid cotton I used as a trim. As soon as I saw it at the fabric shop I knew I wanted to make a Sherlock Holmes inspired cape. It took me over a year to decide what fabric I wanted to pair it with, though! After a lot of searching and some serious consultation with my in-home design consultant (my husband) I chose this lovely wool herringbone shot with subtle colored threads.
To draft the pattern for this capelet I started by draping the design on a half-scale dress form (I didn't have quite enough spare fabric to drape it on a full size form) and then scaled it up using the grid method to enlarge the design. I made a mock-up from an old table cloth I had around to see how it would turn out and I was pleasantly surprised! I liked it much more than I had thought I would, I even liked it in the musty old red tablecloth fabric with big 70's patterns all over it! I've decided to make more of these in the future, I like it so much. I am thinking maybe try it out in velvet? Maybe some more lovely wools? Lots of possibilities to work with here.
I impressed myself by mitering (a special way of turning corners so they form a pretty little point) the trim at all the corners, which turned out really nicely and looks very slick and tailored. I am always glad to pat myself on the back after a job well done ;P
This is one of those designs that came about because of a certain fabric. In this case the inspirational fabric was the dark chocolate brown plaid cotton I used as a trim. As soon as I saw it at the fabric shop I knew I wanted to make a Sherlock Holmes inspired cape. It took me over a year to decide what fabric I wanted to pair it with, though! After a lot of searching and some serious consultation with my in-home design consultant (my husband) I chose this lovely wool herringbone shot with subtle colored threads.
To draft the pattern for this capelet I started by draping the design on a half-scale dress form (I didn't have quite enough spare fabric to drape it on a full size form) and then scaled it up using the grid method to enlarge the design. I made a mock-up from an old table cloth I had around to see how it would turn out and I was pleasantly surprised! I liked it much more than I had thought I would, I even liked it in the musty old red tablecloth fabric with big 70's patterns all over it! I've decided to make more of these in the future, I like it so much. I am thinking maybe try it out in velvet? Maybe some more lovely wools? Lots of possibilities to work with here.
I impressed myself by mitering (a special way of turning corners so they form a pretty little point) the trim at all the corners, which turned out really nicely and looks very slick and tailored. I am always glad to pat myself on the back after a job well done ;P
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